BIRDS OF SAMOA 
PE‘A. 
Polynesian Fruit Bat or Flying 
Fox. 
(Pteropus kerandrenit) 
In incorporating this species with 
birds the object has been to illus- 
trate one of the most common and 
interesting forms of animal life. The 
bats are true mammals, bringing 
forth their young alive, but at pre- 
sent day are regarded by zoologists 
as neither more or less than In- 
sectivores, specially modified and 
adapted for an aerial life. The 
number of species of bats known to 
science will amount to over 450, 
arranged in 80 genera and six fami- 
lies. 
The Fruit-bats are largest of all 
and differ from other members of 
